There is a new battery icon within the latest Windows 11 update from Microsoft (build 26200.7019), which indicates whether the battery is powering or primed with different colors. The charging or healthy state is indicated by green color; yellow, when the battery saver kicks in; and red, when the battery is critically low.
What’s more, the battery icon is larger, and users can also choose to show the exact battery percentage in the taskbar directly through Settings → System → Power & battery.
Superimposed Icons Have Become Simple Reduce More Better in Battery Bar Visibility
Microsoft is working to make visible battery levels easier by simplifying overlay elements-the charging bolt symbol included-and redesigning visually to ensure that overlays do not block the progress bar and is more intuitive at gauging your power level at a glance.
Start Menu Redone Big Time with a Flexible Layout.
Also, you now get a more flexible experience of using the Start menu. The app grid structure has been expanded such that the “All apps” list is incorporated into the main Start page, hence eliminating the need for an entirely separate panel.
User defined Category view, Grid view, or List view displays apps.
Moreover, quick access to notifications, calls, and messages from your connected Android or iOS device, having a Phone Link panel integrated into Start, would come in handy.
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Redesigned Start Menu Automatically Adaptable to Screen Size
In fact, the Start menu now gets to change its configuration according to your monitor dimensions: on larger screens, more pinned or recommended apps will be dynamically displayed.
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This flexibility ensures better scaling of the menu across laptop, desktop, and hybrid devices as one would expect to use it.
Some Early Users Find Features Mixed Access
For some users, this update comes already, while others say it is rolling out gradually:
The battery percentage toggle doesn’t show at all, say several on Reddit.
Others notice the colored icons may be in preview builds or gated through Microsoft rollout.
Why These Visual Tweaks Matter for Everyday Use
Such changes may be perceived as cosmetic, but they have a real impact on usefulness. The color-coded battery icon immediately gives you an easy assessment of your power status-no more guessing whether it is low or charging. Speedy connections via the freshly redesigned app layout and Phone Link integration will now make accessing applications more seamless and connecting you to your mobile device much simpler.
If you are using Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 but have not yet received the update, you might have to wait for a while as Microsoft rolls the feature out in phases. When the patch becomes available, go to Windows Update → Optional Updates to inspect if the new build is accessible.
Read Also: An OS for the Body? Microsoft Inks First Brain‑Implant Partnership
News Source: Pcmag.com
